Blog Archives

I wanted to post something that was informative and fun. I’m always asked about Visual Kei and what it is exactly. Visual Kei is what originally got me into Japanese music. It’s similar to a lot of goth and glam rock that you would hear anywhere else. It actually means “visual style.” This is because the members of the band wear elaborate makeup, hair, clothing, and can be very eccentric. It’s often mistaken for cosplay. Majority of the time, the males dress as females or they simply seem androgynous. These males who dress as females are sometimes referred to as “lolita boys.”

Visual Kei started in the late 80’s, but grew very popular in the 90’s and has stayed a very popular genre. The following bands are certainly not the only ones. These are just a few of my favorites.

Malice Mizer – This band went through a lot in their time. They have three eras, which are distinguished by three different singers. The sound changed with each one. A very popular singer, Gackt, was one of them; his era was the longest and most popular. I’ll post two videos for this band since the style is different with each era; the first is Gackt and the second is Klaha.

The Gazette – Formed in 2002, this band has had quite a few songs featured in anime.

Phantasmagoria – This band is probably my favorite. Their music is so addictive. They took a couple years off, but they did release an album last year.

D – I love this band! The lead singer, Asagi, has a very unique voice. I love their style, too.

Versailles – This is a fairly new band, but I love the drama in their music. It’s almost like vampire meets Phantom of the Opera.

Eveamlizya

I'm a 22 year old boring stay-at-home wife. I love anime, manga, and Japanese music. I also love writing, studying the occult, and crafting. I am combining a few of my loves and writing reviews of the anime, manga, and music I come in contact with.